Electrical Fault Restricting System

ABSTRACT

Electrical fault restricting system for an electrical equipment and/or electrical system has a monitoring unit placed at location of interest to sense or measure electrical fault occurred with the help of sensing or measuring device which is further connected to signal processing and controlling unit which receives data collected by the monitoring unit that provides output for fault identification, alarming and controlling actions to alarming. An indication unit and command for trip signal to circuit breaking device where processed data of data collecting and processing unit are stored at data history storage. A display unit for back reference monitoring unit provides images to image receiver. A processor and controlling unit further provides processed images to an additional data history storage and display unit for future analysis of conditions where plurality of signal processing and controlling unit is inter connected with additional remote central controlling and data handling unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to the electrical fault restrictionsystem to be used in electrical system and/or electrical equipment. Thepresent invention is particularly related to the electrical faultrestriction system by which electrical fault can be restricted frompreliminary stage.

It is necessary that any electrical system and/or electrical equipmentmust be protected from electrical fault to protect it from severeeffects of electrical faults. There are various types of faultsaffecting the system like short circuit fault, over current fault, opencircuit fault, thermal hot spot and earth fault, an arc developed due toelectrical parameters of fault path at point of electrical fault such asshort circuit, open circuit, thermal hot spot and earth fault.

PRIOR ART

There are systems available for fault restriction that work for all typeof voltage class where they identify electrical fault with the help ofmeasuring devices. These measuring devices measure electrical parametersof electrical system and/or equipment. In normal conditions, measuredvalue of parameters indicate voltage and current of electrical systemand/or equipment. Now at fault condition, measured value of parametersindicate voltage and current of system or equipment with fault. So it isvery difficult to identify actual electrical parameters particularlycurrent due to fault. Comparing the measured value with the set value ofmeasured parameters, controlling device gives trip signal to saveelectrical system and/or equipment. To avoid mal operation of electricalsystem and/or equipment, the set values of electrical parameters arekept at some higher level than what is required. Hence, fault is notrestricted at its initial stage of development but at set value ofelectrical parameters of electrical system and/or equipment in presentfault restricting system. It is clear when level of fault reaches athigher stage, it may damage severely to electrical system and/orequipment.

Moreover, the present systems are on bases of assumptions for some typeof fault hence they do not provide accurate results. These systems areless sensitive for fault.

With the available systems for electrical fault protection, they areable to protect only when level of the electrical parameters inelectrical system and/or electrical equipment reaches at set values ofthe electrical parameters. The faulty section is isolated from entiresystem thus entire system is saved. But the fault cannot be noticed byalarming at preliminary stage and also the location at which the faulthas occurred cannot be identified. Moreover, when the fault reaches atsevere stage, the faulty area can be badly affected which may resultinto total shut down of electrical system and/or electrical equipment.

The existing systems are not able to provide any records of abnormalityfor further analysis, which is essential for preventive maintenance,work in electrical system and/or electrical equipment.

In existing systems, abnormality in electrical system and/or electricalequipment is not identified at its preliminary stage of fault, thatfault event may not be minimized near to zero level.

The existing systems do not give any indication of the sensed signal indeveloping stage of fault and there by they are unable to prevent thefurther development of fault in electrical system and/or electricalequipment and may also damage to the electrical system and/or electricalequipment.

The existing systems are not able to identify the location of fault.Hence it takes more time to restore the affected electrical systemand/or equipment.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

So with the goal of providing the system to find the electrical fault inpreliminary stage of fault, identify the location of fault and restrictthe electrical fault at its origin and thereby to protect the entireelectrical system and/or electrical equipment in connection with thelocation of interest of electrical fault in electrical system and/orelectrical equipment, the inventor has proposed the electric faultrestricting system.

The main object of the invention is to protect electrical system and/orelectrical equipment from severe damages by continuous monitoring ofelectrical parameters, identifying faults at preliminary stage andalarming and tripping electrical system and/or electrical equipment atpreliminary stage of fault efficiently with the help of electronicscircuit including microprocessor.

The further object of the invention is to include facility of datahistory storage which provides stored data for further analysis of faultcondition in electrical system and/or electrical equipment and which isessential for planning of preventive maintenance work.

The further object of the invention is to reduce damages to electricalsystem and/or electrical equipment occurring due to electrical fault andso the surrounding electrical system and/or equipment(s) are also savedfrom effect of fault, which reduces damage cost and save considerablerestoration time.

The further object of the invention is to identify fault location easilyand quickly as the system is designed with electronic circuits includingmicroprocessor.

The further object of the invention is that every sensed/measured faultabnormality is noticed, analyzed, recorded as data history, accessed forperformance of electrical system and/or electrical equipment, and theelectrical system and/or electrical equipment is prevented from severeeffects by tripping at preliminary stage of fault.

The further object of the invention is to provide plurality ofmonitoring unit in the system to sense/measure the fault signal atpreliminary stage of fault and gives location of fault and there by eachunit monitors abnormality and transmits fault signal with reference torelated location for further actions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The proposed invention is now described in detail with the help ofdrawings as under:

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatical arrangement of existing electrical faultrestricting system.

FIG. 2 shows block diagram of electrical fault restricting system withrequired facility of alarming and tripping command, indicating anddisplay of required data.

FIG. 3 shows block diagram of electrical fault restricting system withrequired facility of alarming and tripping command, indicating anddisplay of required data, data history storage and display of conditionat a location of fault at time of fault.

FIG. 4 shows block diagram of electrical fault restricting systemworking in coordination with central data processing and decision makingunit with required facility of alarming and tripping command,indicating, data display, data history storage and display of conditionat fault location at time of fault. Working with an additional facilityof data history storage unit at central data processing anddecision-making unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatical arrangement of prior art working. Anelectrical system and/or equipment A is protected with the help ofmeasuring equipment B and measuring equipment C where measuringequipment B measures electrical parameters such as current, voltage andfrequency and measuring equipment C measures local internal parameterssuch as temperature, pressure etc. Measuring device B and C measurerequired parameters and send data continuously to decision making deviceD. This decision making device D comprises of Relay, O/L thermal switchetc. Decision making device D continuously monitors these parameters.When any of the parameters is/are found above predetermined values,decision making device D gives trip signal to electrical circuitbreaking device E. Thus the trip signal is sent to the electrical systemand/or equipment and electrical system and/or equipment is protected butthe location of fault cannot be identified in the existing systems.

FIG. 2 shows block diagram of proposed electrical fault restrictionsystem. This fault restricting system can be divided in three differentsections:

-   -   i. Monitoring unit M    -   ii. Signal processing and controlling unit S    -   iii. Alarm and indication unit I

Monitoring unit M senses or measures electrical fault condition inelectrical system and/or equipment with the help of sensing or measuringdevice N. Sensed or measured signal by sensing or measuring device N isin directly proportional to electrical parameters of fault path at pointof electrical fault, Signal sensed by the sensing device is in directlyproportional to hot spots and arc developed at location of interest dueto electrical fault like short circuit, open circuit, thermal hot spotand earth faults. Measuring device measures earth fault current at thelocation of interest in electrical system and or electrical equipment.This sensing or measuring device is capable for withstanding in appliedsystem, nullifying electromagnetic and electrostatic charges,mechanically durable, flexible in size and feasible to place and mountany where even inside the electrical equipment with appropriate mountingas per requirement in electrical system and/or equipment. Sensed ormeasured signal is collected at monitoring unit M through necessaryarrangement. Monitoring unit M has capability and sensitivity to collectthe signals generated from conducting parts under electrical faultcondition in initial stage of electrical fault. With the help ofelectronic amplifying and other related circuits, monitoring unit M iscapable for transmitting signals collected at the location of interestthat reaches up to signal processing and controlling unit S. Monitoringunit M senses or measures electrical fault at point of interest inelectrical system and/or equipment. Plurality of monitoring unit M maybe used as per requirement in particular electrical system and/orequipment. Signal sensed or measured by monitoring unit M is transmittedto signal processing and controlling unit S through necessaryarrangement. Electronic circuit based processing and controlling unit Scontinuously monitors sensed or measured signal from monitoring unit Mand electrical parameters from electrical parameters measuring units Band C for particular electrical system and/or equipment, and processesfor fault identification, location identification, fault signalanalysis, comparison, indication, alarming and necessary controllingactions executable as electrical fault restriction takes place frominitial stage of electrical fault occurrence at the location ofinterest. Signal processing and controlling unit S is configured toprocess collected data signals for determining the amplitude, durationand quantity and indicating same data for notification about particularsof fault signals and gives necessary control command to circuit breakingunit E of electrical system and/or equipment and to alarming andindication unit I that indicates and alarms about fault. Necessaryauxiliary supply is provided to electrical fault restriction system.

FIG. 3 shows block diagram of Electrical fault restriction system. In afault restricting system can be now divided in four different sectionswith an additional facility of Data history storage and display unit tothe previous embodiment:

-   -   i. Monitoring unit M    -   ii. Signal processing and controlling unit S and Image receiver,        processor and controlling unit P    -   iii. Alarm and indication unit I    -   iv. Data history storage and display unit H

Monitoring unit M senses or measures electrical fault condition inelectrical system and/or equipment with the help of sensing or measuringdevice N. Sensed or measured signal by sensing or measuring device N isin directly proportional to electrical parameters of fault path at pointof electrical fault. Signal sensed by sensing device is in directlyproportional to hot spots and arc developed at location of interest dueto electrical fault like short circuit, open circuit, thermal hot spotand earth faults. Measuring device measures earth fault current at thelocation of interest in electrical system and or electrical equipment.This sensing or measuring device is capable for withstanding in appliedsystem, nullifying electromagnetic and electrostatic charges,mechanically durable, flexible in size and feasible to place and mountany where even inside the electrical equipment with appropriate mountingas per requirement in electrical equipment and/or system. Sensed ormeasured signal is collected at monitoring unit M through necessaryarrangement. Monitoring unit M has capability and sensitivity to collectthe signals generated from conducting parts under electrical faultcondition in initial stage of electrical fault. With the help ofelectronic amplifying and other related circuits, monitoring unit M iscapable for transmitting signals collected at the location of interestthat reaches up to signal processing and controlling unit S. Monitoringunit M senses or measures electrical fault at point of interest inelectrical system and/or equipment. Plurality of monitoring unit M maybe used as per requirement in particular electrical system and/orequipment. Signal sensed or measured by monitoring unit M is transmittedto signal processing and controlling unit S through necessaryarrangement. Electronic circuit including microprocessor basedprocessing and controlling unit S continuously monitors sensed ormeasured signal from monitoring unit M and electrical parameters fromelectrical parameters measuring units B and C for particular electricalsystem and/or equipment, and processes for fault identification,location identification, fault signal analysis, comparison, indication,alarming and necessary controlling actions executable as electricalfault restriction takes place from initial stage of electrical faultoccurrence at the location of interest. Signal processing andcontrolling unit S is configured to process collected data signals fordetermining the amplitude, duration and quantity and indicating samedata for notification about particulars of fault signals and givesnecessary control command to circuit breaking unit E of electricalsystem and/or equipment and to alarming and indication unit I thatindicates and alarms about fault.

An image receiver, processor and controlling unit P collects image ofelectrical fault condition occurred at location of interest inelectrical equipment and/or electrical system from monitoring unit M byarrangement of image collector with sensing device. After processing thecollected images, Image receiver, processor and controlling unit Pprovides image data to be stored in data history and display unit H andutilizes for necessary alarm and controlling action required to restrictelectrical fault in initial stage at location of interest in electricalequipment and/or electrical system. Image receiver, processor andcontrolling unit P provides required image data of fault condition forsufficient time period and before and after fault occurrence on displayunit. Processed data of Signal processing and controlling unit S andImage receiver, processor and controlling unit P are stored at datahistory storage and display unit H for further analysis of variousconditions for development of fault, duration of fault etc. which isessential for further preventive maintenance work planning forelectrical equipment and/or system where the system is applied.Necessary auxiliary supply is provided to electrical fault restrictionsystem.

FIG. 4 shows block diagram of Electrical fault restriction system withcentral remote controlling unit. In a fault restricting system can benow divided in five different sections with an additional facility ofRemote central control and data handling unit to the previousembodiment:

-   -   i. Monitoring unit M    -   i. Signal processing and controlling unit S, Image receiver,        processor and controlling unit P    -   iii. Alarm and indication unit I    -   iv. Data history storage and display unit H    -   v. Remote central controlling and data handling unit R

Monitoring unit M senses or measures electrical fault condition inelectrical system and/or equipment with the help of sensing or measuringdevice N. Sensed or measured signal by sensing or measuring device N isin directly proportional to electrical parameters of fault path at pointof electrical fault. Signal sensed by sensing device is in directlyproportional to hot spots and arc developed at location of interest dueto electrical fault like short circuit, open circuit, thermal hot spotand earth faults. Measuring device measures earth fault current at thelocation of interest in electrical system and or electrical equipment.This sensing or measuring device is capable for withstanding in appliedsystem, nullifying electromagnetic and electrostatic charges,mechanically durable, flexible in size and feasible to place and mountany where even inside the electrical equipment with appropriate mountingas per requirement in electrical equipment and/or system. Sensed ormeasured signal is collected at monitoring unit M through necessaryarrangement. Monitoring unit M has capability and sensitivity to collectthe signals generated from conducting parts under electrical faultcondition in initial stage of electrical fault. With the help ofelectronic amplifying and other related circuits, monitoring unit M iscapable for transmitting signals collected at the location of interestthat reaches up to signal processing and controlling unit S. Monitoringunit M senses or measures electrical fault at point of interest inelectrical system and/or equipment. Plurality of monitoring unit M maybe used as per requirement in particular electrical system and/orequipment.

Signal sensed or measured by monitoring unit M is transmitted to signalprocessing and controlling unit S through necessary arrangement.Electronic circuit including microprocessor based processing andcontrolling unit S continuously monitors sensed or measured signal frommonitoring unit M and electrical parameters from electrical parametersmeasuring units B and C for particular electrical system and/orequipment, and processes for fault identification, locationidentification, fault signal analysis, comparison, indication, alarmingand necessary controlling actions executable as electrical faultrestriction takes place from initial stage of electrical faultoccurrence at the location of interest. Signal processing andcontrolling unit S is configured to process collected data signals fordetermining the amplitude, duration and quantity and indicating samedata for notification about particulars of fault signals and givesnecessary control command to circuit breaking unit E of electricalsystem and/or equipment and to alarming and indication unit I thatindicates and alarms about fault. An image receiver, processor andcontrolling unit P collects image of electrical fault condition occurredat location of interest in electrical equipment and/or electrical systemfrom monitoring unit M by arrangement of image collector with sensingdevice. After processing the collected images, Image receiver, processorand controlling unit P provides image data to be stored in data historyand display unit H and utilizes for necessary alarm and controllingaction required to restrict electrical fault in initial stage atlocation of interest in electrical equipment and/or electrical system.Image receiver, processor and controlling unit P provides required imagedata of fault condition for sufficient time period and before and afterfault occurrence on display unit. Processed data of Signal processingand controlling unit S and Image receiver, processor and controllingunit P are stored at data history storage and display unit H for furtheranalysis of various conditions for development of fault, duration offault etc. which is essential for further preventive maintenance workplanning for electrical equipment and/or system where the system isapplied.

A remote central controlling and data handling unit R is configured tohave interconnected with plurality of signal processing and controllingunit S with the help of appropriate interconnecting arrangement. Thisinterconnection provides better, effective and instantaneous electricalfault restriction in wide network. Where in the remote centralcontrolling and data handling unit R is configured to have central datahistory storage and display unit H for interconnected to plurality ofsignal processing and controlling units S. In central controlling anddata handling unit R, decision of all signal processing and controllingunits S are concluded for better and effective operation of electricalequipment and/or electrical system. This system is highly discriminativeto avoid unnecessary malfunctions in integrated electrical power system.Data history storage and display unit H in remote central controllingand data handling unit R records required data of all interconnectedsignal processing and controlling units S and provides necessary alarmand display of data at remote central controlling and data handling unitR and at individual signal processing and controlling units S as perrequirement.

WORKING OF THE INVENTION

An Electrical fault restricting system for an electrical equipmentand/or electrical system senses or measures electrical fault occurred atthe location of interest with monitoring unit M placed at location ofinterest to with the help of sensing or measuring device N, which isfurther connected to signal processing and controlling unit S whichreceives data collected by monitoring unit M where signal processing andcontrolling unit S may be placed near or remote to monitoring unitaccording to requirement and site condition. The Signal processing andcontrolling unit S provides output for fault identification, locationidentification, fault signal analysis, comparison, indication, alarmingand necessary controlling actions to alarming and Indication unit andcommand for trip signal to circuit breaking device executable aselectrical fault restriction takes place from initial stage ofelectrical fault occurrence at the location of interest, processed dataof data processing and controlling unit are stored at data historystorage and display unit for back reference where an arrangement ofimage collector with sensing device N in monitoring unit provides imageto Image receiver, processor and controlling unit P which furtherprovides processed images to an additional data history storage anddisplay unit for future analysis of conditions at the time of fault, forfurther preventive maintenance work planning. Here plurality of signalprocessing and controlling unit is inter connected with an additionalremote central controlling and data handling unit that help incoordination amongst individual signal processing and controlling unitfor effective fault restriction with the help of comparing data ofindividual unit. Thus the use of the proposed invention can be extendedfrom small scale to large integrated electrical equipment and/orelectrical system, with required facility like data storage and displayof condition at location of fault as a back reference.

1. An electrical fault restricting system for an electrical equipmentand/or electrical system comprises a monitoring unit placed at locationof interest to sense or measure electrical fault occurred at thelocation of interest with the help of sensing or measuring device whichis further connected to signal processing and controlling unit whichreceives data collected by monitoring unit where signal processing andcontrolling unit may be placed near or remote to monitoring unitaccording to requirement and site condition provides output for faultidentification, location identification, fault signal analysis,comparison, indication, alarming and necessary controlling actions toalarming and indication unit and command for trip signal to circuitbreaking device executable as electrical fault restriction tales placefrom initial stage of electrical fault occurrence at the location ofinterest, processed data of data processing and controlling unit arestored at data history storage and display unit for back reference wherean arrangement of image collector with sensing device in monitoring unitprovides image to image receiver, processor and controlling unit whichfurther provides processed images for alarming and controlling actionrequired to restrict electrical fault and image data before and afterfault occurrence of sufficient time period to an additional data historystorage and display unit for future analysis of conditions at the timeof fault, for further preventive maintenance work planning whereplurality of signal processing and controlling unit is inter connectedwith an additional remote central controlling and data handling unitthat help in coordination amongst individual signal processing andcontrolling unit for effective fault restriction with the help ofcomparing data of individual unit.
 2. An electrical fault restrictingsystem as claimed in claim 1 wherein monitoring unit comprises ofsensing device or measuring device which sense or measure direct effectof electrical fault generated at the location of interest in electricalsystem and/or equipment where the signal sensed by sensing device isdirectly proportional to hot spot and arc develop due to short circuit,open circuit, hot spot and earth faults and measured signal by measuringdevice is directly proportional to earth fault current of fault path atthe point of fault.
 3. An electrical fault restricting system as claimedin claim 2 where the monitoring unit with sensing or measuring device isstructured as to capable for withstanding in applied system, nullifyingelectromagnetic and electrostatic charges, mechanically durable,flexible in size and feasible to place and mount any where even insidethe electrical equipment with appropriate mounting as per requirement inelectrical equipment and/or system.
 4. An electrical fault restrictingsystem as claimed in claim 1 wherein monitoring unit has capability andsensitivity to collect the signals generated from conducting parts underelectrical fault condition in initial stage of electrical fault.
 5. Anelectric fault restricting system as claimed in claim 1 whereinplurality of monitoring unit depends on number of location of interestin applied electrical system and/or equipment.
 6. An electrical faultrestricting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein signal processing andcontrolling unit is configured to collect data of sensed or measuredsignal from individual monitoring unit and data of electrical parametersfrom electrical parameters measuring unit of particular electricalequipment and/or system and processes signals separately for furtherresponse with reference to the particular monitoring unit where it isplaced at the location of interest.
 7. An electrical fault restrictingsystem as claimed in claim 1 wherein signal processing and controllingunit is configured to process collected data signals for determining theamplitude, duration and quantity and indicating same data fornotification about particulars of fault signals.
 8. An electrical faultrestricting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein signal processing andcontrolling unit is configured to having selectivity for instant ofalarming for fault and for instant of trip signal to interruptelectrical power supply to restrict electrical fault at its initialstage occurrence at the location of interest in particular electricalsystem and/or electrical equipment.
 9. The system of claim 1 wherein thedata history storage and display unit is configured to providesufficient data for assessment of fault signal received, condition atthe time of fault, comparison of fault signal data and electricalparameters of relevant electrical system and/or electrical equipment toconclude information for development of fault condition as signalsreceived from the location of interest, for taking decision aboutplanning for preventive maintenance at the location of interest fromwhere signals are received due to electrical fault condition, conclusionabout urgency for a task of electrical fault restriction.
 10. Anelectrical fault restricting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein theremote central control and data handling unit is configured to haveinterconnected with plurality of signal processing and controlling unitwith the help of appropriate interconnecting arrangement for better,effective and instantaneous electrical fault restriction in widenetwork.
 11. An electrical fault restricting system as claimed in claim1, wherein the remote central control and data handling unit isconfigured to have central data history storage and display unit forinterconnected plurality of local signal processing and controllingunits where the central controlling and data handling unit performsdecision of all the signal processing and controlling units areconcluded for better and effective operation of electrical equipmentand/or electrical system.
 12. An electrical fault restricting system asclaimed in claim 1, where the image receiver, processor and controllingunit is configured to collect the images of occurrence of electricalfault at the location of interest with the help of image collectorarranged with sensing device in monitoring unit and processes thecollected image and creates data of particular electrical faultcondition where processed images provide sufficient information which isuseful for identification and notification (alarming) of electricalfault condition and further necessary conclusion and action related torestriction of electrical fault in initial stage at location of interestin electrical equipment and/or electrical system.
 13. An electricalfault restricting system as claimed in claim 1 where the monitoring unitwith sensing or measuring device is structured as to capable forwithstanding in applied system, nullifying electromagnetic andelectrostatic charges, mechanically durable, flexible in size andfeasible to place and mount any where even inside the electricalequipment with appropriate mounting as per requirement in electricalequipment and/or system.